College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences (CLAHS)

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The College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences includes the arts, humanities, social and human sciences, and education. The College nurtures intellect and spirit, enlightens decision-making, inspires positive change, and improves the quality of life for people of all ages.

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Browsing College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences (CLAHS) by Department "Center for Gerontology"

Now showing 1 - 15 of 15
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    Dynamical Properties of Postural Control in Obese Community-Dwelling Older Adults
    Frames, Christopher W.; Soangra, Rahul; Lockhart, Thurmon E.; Lach, John; Ha, Dong Sam; Roberto, Karen A.; Lieberman, Abraham (MDPI, 2018-05-24)
    Postural control is a key aspect in preventing falls. The aim of this study was to determine if obesity affected balance in community-dwelling older adults and serve as an indicator of fall risk. The participants were randomly assigned to receive a comprehensive geriatric assessment followed by a longitudinal assessment of their fall history. The standing postural balance was measured for 98 participants with a Body Mass Index (BMI) ranging from 18 to 63 kg/m2, using a force plate and an inertial measurement unit affixed at the sternum. Participants’ fall history was recorded over 2 years and participants with at least one fall in the prior year were classified as fallers. The results suggest that body weight/BMI is an additional risk factor for falling in elderly persons and may be an important marker for fall risk. The linear variables of postural analysis suggest that the obese fallers have significantly higher sway area and sway ranges, along with higher root mean square and standard deviation of time series. Additionally, it was found that obese fallers have lower complexity of anterior-posterior center of pressure time series. Future studies should examine more closely the combined effect of aging and obesity on dynamic balance.
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    Elderly & Disabled Waiver Services: Development of the Client Satisfaction Survey-Short Forms
    Brossoie, Nancy; Roberto, Karen A.; Teaster, Pamela B.; Glass, Anne (Virginia Department of Medical Assisstance Services, 2005-04)
    This report is an addendum to an earlier report, Elderly & Disabled Waiver Services: Results of a Statewide Client Survey. Since the study’s distribution, further development and analysis of the Client Satisfaction Survey was conducted, with the purpose of creating a short form version to be administered by providers and utilization review analysts of Elderly and Disabled (E & D) Waiver services. Also, a second version of the short survey is presented for use during home visits as a supplement to questions asked of nursing supervisors and utilization review analysts.
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    Elderly & Disabled Waiver Services: Provider Survey, Executive Summary
    Glass, Anne; Roberto, Karen A.; Teaster, Pamela B.; Brossoie, Nancy (Virginia Department for Medical Assistance Services, 2003-03)
  • Elderly & Disabled Waiver Services: Results of a Statewide Client Satisfaction Survey
    Glass, Anne; Roberto, Karen A.; Teaster, Pamela B.; Brossoie, Nancy (Virginia Department of Medical Assisstance Services, 2004-10)
    As part of a “Real Choice Systems Change” grant received by the Virginia Department of Medical Assistance Services, the Center for Gerontology at Virginia Tech conducted a statewide survey of clients receiving personal care services under the Medicaid Elderly and Disabled (E & D) Waiver. The goal was to learn about clients’ experiences with personal care, using performance, satisfaction, and outcome measures. Demographic data about clients and aides were also collected. A comparison of the study sample with the larger E & D Waiver population on the available indicators of age, gender, and location showed the sample was representative of the full E & D Waiver population. All planning districts were represented, and the regional distribution reflected that of the larger population. Therefore, findings and observations are likely to be applicable to the full population of E & D Waiver clients in Virginia.
  • Elderly & Disabled Waiver Services: Utilization Review Summary Report
    Glass, Anne; Roberto, Karen A.; Teaster, Pamela B.; Brossoie, Nancy (Virginia Department of Medical Assisstance Services, 2004-03)
    : As part of Virginia’s Real Choice Systems Change Grant (July 20, 2001), the Center for Gerontology at Virginia Tech is responsible for Goal 4: “Address gaps in quality assurance and client satisfaction for community-based waiver service programs through the development of performance, outcomes, and satisfaction measures for continuous quality improvement and use.” To meet this goal, the Center has conducted extensive research in client satisfaction with E&D Waiver services (reported elsewhere, e.g., Glass, Roberto, Teaster & Brossoie, 2003a). In addition, the Center reviewed the existing Utilization Review (UR) process, as it is currently the primary means of quality assessment (QA) for the E&D Waiver program in Virginia. Our evaluation, based on the following activities, indicates that mechanisms are now in place to address and monitor the quality of services delivered by provider agencies. Continual development and refinement of the UR process will help ensure clients receive quality services and are satisfied with the assistance they receive.
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    Elderly and Disabled Waiver Services: Important Dimensions From the Client's Perspective
    Glass, Anne; Roberto, Karen A.; Teaster, Pamela B.; Brossoie, Nancy (Virginia Department for Medical Assistance Services, 2003-06)
    Little is known about home and community based services (HCBS) and even less about the quality of those services. As part of a “Real Choice Systems Change” grant received by the Virginia Department of Medical Assistance Services, the Center for Gerontology at Virginia Tech conducted an exploratory survey of clients receiving HCBS under the Medicaid Elderly and Disabled (E & D) Waiver. The goal of the survey was to learn about clients’ experiences with HCBS and to identify the most important dimensions of service provision from their perspectives. An initial focus group with 11 caregivers was first held in Big Stone Gap. Twenty-five telephone interviews were then completed (18 clients and 7 caregivers) in five areas of the Commonwealth. Fifteen were in urban areas (Northern Virginia, Richmond, and Chesapeake) and ten in rural or non-metropolitan areas (New River Valley and Planning Districts 13 and 14).
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    Final Report Abstract: Caregivers of Persons with Mild Cognitive Impairment: Information and Support Needs
    Roberto, Karen A.; Blieszner, Rosemary; Brossoie, Nancy; Winston, Brianne L. (Alzheimer's Association, Medical and Scientific Affairs, 2007)
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    The Impacts of the Neighborhood Built Environment on Social Capital for Middle-Aged and Elderly Koreans
    Hwang, Eunju; Brossoie, Nancy; Jeong, Jin Wook; Song, Kimin (MDPI, 2021-01-14)
    The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between the neighborhood built environment (NBE) aspects of age-friendly cities and communities (AFCCs) and social capital in the Korean context. We described and compared age differences when analyzing misfits of AFCC NBE and impacts on social capital. We collected the data (N = 1246) from two Korean communities; our multiple and binary logistic regression outcomes show that AFCC NBE aspects such as outdoor spaces, transportation, and housing are significant predictors of different subcategories of social capital. For the older group, the outdoor spaces misfit was significant for all three subcategories of social capital, but transportation and housing misfits were significant for the social trust and reciprocity index scores. For the middle-aged group, the outdoor spaces misfit was significant for social networking and participation, and a transportation misfit was significant for participation and social trust and reciprocity. Fewer misfits or better fits of outdoor spaces and transportation encouraged more networking, participation, social trust, and reciprocity. Dwelling type was important to predict social capital, especially for the older group. The present study confirmed the importance of AFCC NBE in predicting social capital and unique factors in the Korean context.
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    A Long and Winding Road: Dementia Caregiving With Grit and Grace
    Roberto, Karen A.; McCann, Brandy R.; Blieszner, Rosemary; Savla, Jyoti S. (Oxford University Press, 2019)
    Background and Objectives: Many dementia caregivers provide care for numerous years. Exhibiting grit, or commitment and persistence in the face of adversity, may bolster their ability to manage caregiving challenges. We explored grit in relationship to memory and behavior problems and response to stressors among women engaged in long-term dementia care. Research Design and Methods: Informed by a life course perspective, and guided by stress-process theory, we interviewed 10 women with a spouse or parent initially diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment 4 times over 10 years. Using Charmaz’s analysis methods and grit as a sensitizing concept, we employed an unfolding analytic strategy involving (a) thematic analysis to identify expressions of grit in response to caregiving stressors across interviews and (b) case-by-case comparisons to assess associations of grit with the use of care strategies across caregivers over time. Results: Dementia caregivers experienced unrelenting and changing psychosocial and physical challenges. Over time, most women exhibited a sustained commitment to the relationship through the ways in which they protected the identity of the person with dementia, modified their expectations for emotional intimacy, and managed their financial affairs. They persevered as their roles and relationships fluctuated, often finding purpose and relief through employment and leisure pursuits. As care intensified, women who took charge and consciously made decisions in the best interest of the care recipient and themselves minimized stress. Discussion and Implications: While some caregivers exhibited grit from the outset, all showed enhanced perseverance and commitment to the ways they managed memory-related changes over time. Developing confidence in their ability to manage and provide care helped the caregivers respond to stressors with purpose and sustain their roles and responsibilities. Enhancing grit in long-term dementia caregivers may result in better individual and relational outcomes.
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    Nursing Home Employees: Community Ecology and Retention
    Roberto, Karen A.; Mancini, Jay A. (National Institutes of Health, 2003)
  • Older Families in Rural Communities: Personal and Social Influences on Service Use
    Roberto, Karen A.; Blieszner, Rosemary (U. S. Department of Agriculture, 2002)
    The overall goal of this research project was to gather data from older adults and their family caregivers living in rural southwest Virginia to learn how health and community-based services programs can win greater acceptability in these rural communities as a suitable complement to or, when necessary, alternative to family caregiving.
  • Osteoporosis & The Health of Virginia's Older Women: Issues & Consequences Affecting Quality of Life
    Roberto, Karen A. (U. S. Department of Agriculture, 2002)
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    Perturbation-based balance training targeting both slip- and trip-induced falls among older adults: a randomized controlled trial
    Allin, Leigh J.; Brolinson, Per Gunnar; Beach, Briana M.; Kim, Sunwook; Nussbaum, Maury A.; Roberto, Karen A.; Madigan, Michael L. (2020-06-12)
    Background Falls are the leading cause of injuries among older adults. Perturbation-based balance training (PBT) is an innovative approach to fall prevention that aims to improve the reactive balance response following perturbations such as slipping and tripping. Many of these PBT studies have targeted reactive balance after slipping or tripping, despite both contributing to a large proportion of older adult falls. The goal of this randomized controlled trial was to evaluate the effects of PBT targeting slipping and tripping on laboratory-induced slips and trips. To build upon prior work, the present study included: 1) a control group; 2) separate training and assessment sessions; 3) PBT methods potentially more amenable for use outside the lab compared to methods employed elsewhere, and 4) individualized training for older adult participants. Methods Thirty-four community-dwelling, healthy older adults (61–75 years) were assigned to PBT or a control intervention using minimization. Using a parallel design, reactive balance (primary outcome) and fall incidence were assessed before and after four sessions of BRT or a control intervention involving general balance exercises. Assessments involved exposing participants to an unexpected laboratory-induced slip or trip. Reactive balance and fall incidence were compared between three mutually-exclusive groups: 1) baseline participants who experienced a slip (or trip) before either intervention, 2) post-control participants who experienced a slip (or trip) after the control intervention, and 3) post-PBT participants who experienced a slip (or trip) after PBT. Neither the participants nor investigators were blinded to group assignment. Results All 34 participants completed all four sessions of their assigned intervention, and all 34 participants were analyzed. Regarding slips, several measures of reactive balance were improved among post-PBT participants when compared to baseline participants or post-control participants, and fall incidence among post-PBT participants (18%) was lower than among baseline participants (80%). Regarding trips, neither reactive balance nor fall incidence differed between groups Conclusions PBT targeting slipping and tripping improved reactive balance and fall incidence after laboratory-induced slips. Improvements were not observed after laboratory-induced trips. The disparity in efficacy between slips and trip may have resulted from differences in dosage and specificity between slip and trip training. Trial registration Name of Clinical Trial Registry: clinicaltrials.gov Trial Registration number: NCT04308239. Date of Registration: March 13, 2020 (retrospectively registered).
  • Real Choices Systems Change Grant Final Report: Goal 4 Quality Assessment
    Roberto, Karen A.; Teaster, Pamela B.; Glass, Anne; Brossoie, Nancy (Virginia Department of Medical Assisstance Services, 2005-09)
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    Virginia Public Guardian and Conservator Programs: Evaulation of Program Status and Outcomes, Executive Summary
    Teaster, Pamela B.; Roberto, Karen A. (Virginia Department for the Aging, 2003)
    The Virginia Public Guardian and Conservator Programs were established by law in 1997 in § 2.1-373.10 - § 2.1-373.14 of the Virginia Code. The 10 local programs, chosen through a request for proposal (RFP) process, are administered by the Virginia Department for the Aging. A mandated evaluation of the 10 Virginia Public Guardian and Conservator Programs was conducted over a two-year period, 2001-2002. Data were collected at approximately the same time during the fall of 2001 (Year 1) and 2002 (Year 2). Information was gathered from the programs using a password protected, web-based data collection system designed especially for this project. Five unique survey instruments were developed gather information about the administrative structure and functions of the programs, ward characteristics, the interface between the programs and wards. All of the programs participated in the Year 1 data collection; in Year 2, one of the programs chose to submit data in response to only one (i.e., Agency Profile) of the five evaluation tools (i.e., Agency Profile, Ward Assessment, Ward Care Plan, Administrative Time Log, and Ward Time Log).